James B. Hecker is a retired four-star

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

who last served as the commander of

United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa The United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) is a United States Air Force (USAF) major command (MAJCOM) and a component command of both United States European Command (USEUCOM) and United States Africa Command ( ...

and

Allied Air Command The Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) is the Staff (military), central command of all NATO air force, air and space forces and the Commander Allied Air Command is the prime air and space advisor to the Alliance. When directed by the Supreme Allied Com ...

from 2022 to 2025. Before that, he served as the commander and president of Air University from 2019 to 2022. and also previously served as the vice director for operations of the

Joint Staff The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, which advises the president of the United States, the United States Secretary of Defense, secretary of defense, ...

. He is from

Arnold, California Arnold is a census-designated place (CDP) in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 3,288 at the 2020 census. Arnold is located on State Route 4. History Arnold is named after Bob and Bernice Arnold, who, in 1927 opene ...

and graduated from the

United States Air Force Academy The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a United States service academies, United States service academy in Air Force Academy, Colorado, Air Force Academy Colorado, immediately north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Colorado Springs. I ...

in 1989.

Awards and decorations

Effective dates of promotions

References

, - , - , - , - , - , - Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Air Force generals United States Air Force personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Year of birth missing (living people) Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States) Recipients of the Air Medal United States Air Force Academy alumni Air University (United States Air Force) faculty Military personnel from California Aviators from California People from Calaveras County, California United States Air Force personnel of the Kosovo War United States Air Force personnel of the Gulf War Long stubs with short prose {{USAF-bio-stub